[UPDATED with Jail for Kimberly Nizato:] Who Left Courage the German Shepherd to Die?

​UPDATED, AUG. 15, 2 P.M.: Irvine veterinary technician Kimberly Nizato was sentenced today in Norwalk to 30 days in Los Angeles County Jail, three years of probation and an order to pay restitution for leaving Courage the German shepherd to die.

The dog, who weighed only 37 pounds when he was turned over to Orange County animal
rescuers, earned the name for eating dirt and rocks to survive while being tied to a Bellflower tree for at least five days in the spring of 2010.A shepherd Courage's age should have weighed 75-80 lbs.,
experts said at the time.

Nizato was convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty, and two days of her jail sentence were suspended. Her lawyer says she sold her Bellflower house and moved out of the area, but that he's working on an arrangement that will allow her to serve her probation.

She has already been ordered to pay $2,034 in restitution and court fees, but the amount could get firmed up at a Nov. 8 hearing. The judge also banned Nizato from owning a pet and ordered her to undergo counseling.